905 - The Perspiration Implementation
Aired October 19, 2015

When the guys sign up for fencing class taught by Barry Kripke, Sheldon finds himself in an uncomfortable position after Kripke expresses an interest in Amy. Meanwhile, the girls try to help Stuart attract more female shoppers to his comic book store.

Episode Notes

The title refers to Howard's device to trick his Fitbit into reporting that he was exercising.

Episode Quotes

Bernadette: Stuart took that rejection like a pro.Penny: Well, he knew he was on the breast cam.Amy: I don't have much practice turning men down. It wasn't so much fun.Bernadette: Oh, you get used to it. Some guys you have to turn down over and over.Penny: And sometimes we marry them anyway.

Howard: My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

Sheldon: Excuse me, Barry?Barry Kripke: Yes?Sheldon: When can I stab one of my friends?Barry Kripke: In fencing, we don't call it a stab. We call it a touch.Sheldon: Uh, yes, I'm aware. But if I say I want to touch one of my friends, I'll get called into Human Resources.

Raj: My name is Little Orphan Annie. You killed my father. Prepare to die.Howard: My name is Darth Vader. I am your father.

Sheldon: According to a recent study, simply thinking about exercise, even while sitting still, can have physical benefits. For all you know, I could be exercising right now.Raj: Are you?Sheldon: Na, I'll do it tomorrow.

Episode Pictures (9)

Recap

When Sheldon, Leonard and Raj go to Howard's lab to see if he's ready to go to lunch, they find him working on a impressive rotary device. Rather than a critical component for the space station, Howard is actually working on an appliance to trick his Fitbit, which Bernadette bought to track his health, into believing he's working out. As the guys admit their lack of exercise, Leonard says it wouldn't be a bad thing if the guys were more active.

As they eat dinner back in the apartment, Sheldon and Leonard are looking through a list of activities the university provides. Penny isn't sure that sports are for them, especially since Leonard even managed to injure himself during a Scrabble game. Leonard reads that Barry Kripke has started a fencing club. Sheldon and Leonard are drawn to fencing because it's indoors, doesn't involve throwing, catching or running, and there are no gym shorts that can be pulled down - or up.

The girls go to Stuart's comic book store to help him figure out why he's struggling to attract female shoppers, even though comics are more popular than ever with women. Stuart explains his failed initiatives to attract female customers, which included more women-oriented titles, folding the end of the toilet paper into a triangle, and a new breastfeeding area in the store. Amy takes Stuart to task for some of the artwork that could be demeaning to women.

As the guys, who are wearing fencing uniforms, practice with their swords in the school gym, their coach, Barry Kripke, arrives. Kripke warns them that this is a serious sport so they will be disappointed if they only came because they thought it would be like Star Wars. As Barry teaches them the techniques and positions, the guys grow impatient that they're not fighting eachother with their swords yet. When Barry takes a phone call during the class, the guys start battling eachother behind his back.

Back at the comic book store, Amy asks whether Stuart has ever thought about advertising directly to women, but his idea for a sign looks like a non-starter. Penny starts reading Internet reviews of the store from female shoppers who all found Stuart creepy.

The guys are starting to get the hang of fencing as they play practice matches against each other. As Howard and Raj fence, they both quote Inigo Montoya's famous line from The Princess Bride. When Howard complains that Raj was supposed to be Puss in Boots, he starts quoting Inigo's line as Puss in Boots. When Sheldon and Leonard go head to head, Leonard expresses his happiness that the fencing is taking Sheldon's mind of Amy. When Kripke wonders what's up with Amy, Sheldon admits that they split up. Much to Sheldon's discomfort, Barry shows an interest in Amy now that she's single.

After Leonard warns Kripke that it wouldn't be a good idea to ask Amy out, Sheldon goes over to Barry to warn him in his own crazy way: by demanding a duel. Since Sheldon has only had one lesson from Kripke, Sheldon suggests that they hold the duel in three years' time. Elsewhere, Stuart is ready to admit he is the reason his store can't attract female clientele. Stuart admits that the longer he is alone, the more desperate he becomes. Amy can relate to how Stuart feels, since she was alone for so long before she met Sheldon. Stuart once again misreads the situation and thinks Amy is asking him out.

The guys sit down for drinks at a sports bar, which Sheldon suggested as they're athletes now. When Sheldon admits he belongs in a bar because he's got female problems, Howard wonders if it isn't time for Sheldon to consider dating somebody else. Sheldon thinks it's a preposterous idea, but Raj points out that Sheldon never thought he would be in a relationship until he met Amy. Sheldon isn't sure there is anybody out there for him, since Penny is married to Leonard, Bernadette is married to Howard, and Emily has red hair and white skin which could upset Sheldon's fear of clowns. After Sheldon goes over to a table of women, he tries to ask one of them out with a Pokemon reference which she doesn't understand. Sheldon then turns his attention the woman's grandmother, who thinks she's too old for him. Finally, Sheldon ignores the red-headed woman at the table.

When the girls arrive back at Penny's apartment, Amy admits she didn't feel good turning Stuart down. The girls insist she'll get better at it over time. Amy then checks her phone and finds a message from Barry Kripke asking her out. Amy admits she isn't sure what to do. She thought she would date again but not right away, and when she did she thought it would be somebody less like Sheldon. After Bernadette wonders if Amy feels any attraction towards Stuart, Amy says she's not sure. Penny suggests Amy imagine Kripke naked to see if there's any attraction, but Amy doesn't need to imagine as Barry included a nude picture with the text.

When Sheldon and Leonard return to the apartment building, they run into Amy and Bernadette in the hallway. Leonard and Bernadette leave Sheldon and Amy alone to talk. Sheldon tells Amy that he tried fencing and found it pretty easy, perhaps because of his background in "mathletics". Sheldon then warns Amy that Barry Kripke expressed an interest in her, prompting Amy to tell Sheldon he already text her. Amy informs Sheldon she turned Kripke down. Sheldon then reveals that he asked two women out earlier in the night and they both turned him down. After Amy says she didn't realize Sheldon was interested in dating, Sheldon says he was told it's a good way to move on. After Amy tells Sheldon he looks good, he walks away and climbs the stairs to his apartment.

In Howard and Bernadette's kitchen, Bernadette wonders why Howard's Fitbit is reporting that he ran 174 miles the day before.